Murals, sculptures, decorative paving, and memorials can all be ways of enhancing trails with art.
A photo gallery of murals, sculptures, decorative paving, and memorials.
by Stuart Macdonald, Trail Consultant, American Trails
Art can celebrate history, as sculptures at National Historic Trail sites. Art can also add richness to the historic elements that have been preserved along with trail corridors. Images of former railroads and the urban past have inspired art along rail trails. Some trails wind through industrial areas where murals add interest to walls and bridges. Art can also bring an element of surprise and unexpected elements along the trail route. Art can be a way of involving more of the community in trails, and schools have also taken on an artistic project for a greenway. Here are some selections from the wide variety of artistic installations on trails across America.
A variety of sculptures are sponsored by the Port of San Diego along the Bayfront Embarcadero trail
Murals of local history line the Downtown Lakewalk in Duluth, Minnesota, a rails with trail project.
Sculpture on the Mary Carter Greenway along the Platte River, South Suburban Park District, Littleton, Colorado.
Big guitars along the Town Lake Trail in Austin, Texas;
Incised poems and images in concrete trail along Denver’s Platte River Greenway
Artistic shade structures add interesting shadows to park trail in downtown Phoenix, Arizona
Ogden Nature Center’s annual exhibition of artistic birdhouses along its trail system in Ogden, Utah
Murals on freeway piers along trail through San Diego’s Chicano Park
Sandstone slabs make an artistic gateway to a section of Cherry Creek Trail, Denver, Colorado.
Salmon sculpture called “Leaper” by Tom Jay, 2003, along Riverside Park trail in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Cut steel sculptural fence interprets natural features along Quad Cities RiverWay at Arsenal Island.
Walk-through sculpture on trail in Seattle’s Space Needle Park
Historic sculpture commemorates rower John B. Kelly along Philadephia’s Schuylkill River Greenway
Naval sculptures are part of USS San Diego Memorial along San Diego’s Embarcadero trail
Naval sculptures are part of USS San Diego Memorial along San Diego’s Embarcadero trail
Sculptural gateway arch along Chattanooga’s Tennessee River Park greenway
Published August 2018
Stuart Macdonald spent 19 years as Colorado's State Trails Coordinator. He is the editor of American Trails Magazine. During 1998-99, he represented State Trail Administrators on the national committee that proposed regulations for accessible trails. He chaired the National Recreational Trails Committee, which advised the Federal Highway Administration in the first years of the Recreational Trails Program. Stuart grew up in San Diego and his main outdoor interest besides trails is surfing. He has a BA in English from San Francisco State and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Utah State.
September 11th National Memorial Trail to Offer Interactive Map
posted Sep 11, 2021
The September 11th National Memorial Trail is a 1,300-mile system of trails and roadways that link the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Art Ports Allow More Options for Public Art
posted May 18, 2021
This new products proposes infrastructural necessities of public art be decoupled from the work, and instead be a part of the Active Transportation landscape. This manifests in flexible, reusable, foundational footings designed with temporary and permanent public art opportunities in mind.
posted Nov 5, 2020
A presentation by Owen Worozbyt, Trail and Environmental Program Officer of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.
Santa Rosa Public Art Master Plan
posted Aug 18, 2020
The Plan describes what the Public Art Program’s priorities should be. The Public Art Program will catalyze new projects, provide guidance to projects undertaken by developers and others, and continue community outreach and education around public art.
